The „Descent of the Ganga‟ is a
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Descent of the Ganga → relief sculpture at Mamallapuram
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Early Medieval South India (Pallavas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Cholas): 54 previous year questions
UPSC has asked 54 questions on Early Medieval South India (Pallavas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Cholas) between 1979 and 2026: CSE 20 · CDS 17 · CAPF 5 · NDA 4 · CISF (LDCE) 3 · Geo-Scientist 3 · EPFO (APFC) 2. 35 of them came after 2015, so this is a live topic examiners keep returning to. 20 were set in Civil Services Prelims; the rest come from UPSC's other papers, which draw on the same question bank.
Tap an option to check yourself. Answers follow the official UPSC key; where the key was dropped or disputed the question is not shown.
Match the following types of land mentioned in Chola Inscriptions: List I (Type of Land) List II (Purpose) 1. Land gifted to temples A. Shalabhoga 2. Land donated to Jain Institutions B. Pallichchhandam 3. Land for the maintenance of a school C. Vellanvagai 4. Land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors D. Tirunamattukkani Code A B C D
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Shalabhoga → school | Pallichchhandam → Jain institutions | Vellanvagai → non-Brahmana peasant proprietors | Tirunamattukkani → temples
With reference to ancient South India, the terms Vichitrachitta’, ‘Chitrakarapuli’ and ‘Chaityakari’ refer to
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Vichitrachitta, Chitrakarapuli, Chaityakari → titles (of Mahendravarman I)
Consider the following statements about Ellora: 1. This art-historical site is associated exclusively with Buddhism. 2. The Kailasa temple at Ellora has been built of dressed stone and kiln-fired bricks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Ellora → Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jain caves, not exclusively Buddhist | Kailasa temple → rock-cut, not dressed stone and kiln-fired bricks
Who among the following rulers in ancient India had assumed the titles 'Mattavilasa', 'Vichitrachitta' and 'Gunabhara'?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Titles Mattavilasa, Vichitrachitta, Gunabhara → Mahendravarman I
Who among the following led a successful military campaign against the kingdom of Srivijaya, the powerful maritime State, which ruled the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and the neighbouring islands?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Successful campaign against Srivijaya → Rajendra I (Chola)
Chola inscriptions mention several categories of lands. Which one of the following was meant for the maintenance of school?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Chola land for maintaining a school → Shalabhoga
Who among the following Chola kings encouraged the Sailendra ruler of Sri Vijaya to build a Buddhist Vihara in Negapatnam?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Encouraged Sailendra ruler to build a Buddhist Vihara at Negapatnam → Rajaraja I
The royal portraits of Simhavishnu and Mahendravarman are found in which cave temple at Mamallapuram?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Royal portraits of Simhavishnu and Mahendravarman → Adivaraha Cave, Mamallapuram
Which one of the following has been an important early Chola painting discovered at the Urihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur in 1931?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Early Chola painting found in Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur (1931) → Shiva as Yoga-Dakshinamurti
The Dakshinamurti (South-facing) form of Shiva represents
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Dakshinamurti form of Shiva → universal teacher
Consider the following statements with reference to Rudramadevi 1. Rudramadevi is also known as Raya-gaja-kesari 2. The inscriptions largely project her as a heroic king not queen. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Rudramadevi → also known as Raya-gaja-kesari | Inscriptions project her as a heroic king, not queen
Which one among the following temples, constructed by Queen Loka Mahadevi in Pattadakal, is a UNESCO World Heritage site ?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Queen Loka Mahadevi's temple at Pattadakal → Virupaksha Temple
Which one of the following pairs of terms and their meanings is not correctly matched ?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Nattar → leading men of the nadu, not male serpent deity | Nagarakkani → land owned by the nagaram | Yupa → sacrificial post | Viragal → hero stone
The titles of „Rayagajakesari and Dayagajakesari were associated with which one of the following dynasties?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Rayagajakesari and Dayagajakesari → Kakatiya
Name the location of the musical inscription containing groups of musical notes arranged for the benefit of his pupils by a king in the seventh or eighth century CE.
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Musical inscription (seventh or eighth century CE) → Kudumiyamalai
Consider the following statements with reference to the Nataraj bronze sculpture of Chola period : 1. Shiva is shown balancing himself on his right leg representing tirobhava. 2. Shiva is shown raising his left leg in bhujangatrasita stance, representing kicking away the illusion from the devotee‘s mind. 3. The main right hand holds the damaru, Shiva‘s favourite musical instrument. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Chola Nataraja → left leg raised in bhujangatrasita, kicking away illusion | NOT: right-leg balance represents tirobhava | NOT: main right hand holds the damaru
Which of the following dynasties of South India issued their documents first in Prakrit and later in Sanskrit ?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Documents first in Prakrit, later Sanskrit → Pallavas of Tondaimandalam
Which one among the following statements about the Kailashanatha temple at Ellora is not correct?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Kailashanatha, Ellora → carved in Eighth Century CE; Shiva; Shaiva and Vaishnava sculptures | Superstructure → Dravidian, not Nagara
Vengi’, the capital city of the Eastern Chalukyas, is identified with which one of the following places?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Vengi (Eastern Chalukya capital) → Peddavegi
Consider the following dynasties 1. Hoysala 2. Gahadavala 3. Kakatiya 4. Yadava How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Hoysala, Gahadavala, Kakatiya, Yadava → none established in early eighth century AD
„Sengol‟, installed in the new Parliament building of India, was seen as a symbol of the path of service, duty and nation in which Empire of the past ?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Sengol in the new Parliament → Chola Empire
The King of Dance‟ is a description of
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Answer D (official UPSC key)King of Dance → Bronze Nataraja of the Cholas
Among the following, which one has been accorded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site recently?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Recent UNESCO World Heritage Site → Ramappa Temple, near Warangal
In medieval India, the term “Fanam” referred to:
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Fanam → coins
Which one among the following is a temple of the Vaishnavite tradition ?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Vaishnavite temple → Srirangam
Pulakeshin II belonged to which dynasty of rulers?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Pulakeshin II → Western Chalukyas (Badami)
At which one of the following places was a Shiva temple not constructed under the patronage of the Chola rulers ?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Not a Chola Shiva temple site → Naneghat (of: Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Naneghat)
Consider the following statements related to the Virashaiva tradition in Karnataka : 1. The Virashaiva movement was led by a Brahmana named Basavanna, a minister in the court of the Kalachuri ruler in the twelfth century. 2. The Virashaivas encouraged practices, approved by the Dharmashastras, like post-puberty marriages and remarriage of widows. Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct ?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Virashaiva movement → led by Brahmana Basavanna, minister of the Kalachuri ruler (twelfth century) | NOT: Virashaivas encouraged practices approved by the Dharmashastras
Which one of the following statements about the Elephanta Island is correct?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Elephanta Island → associated with the Pashupata sect (Lakulisha relief)
Depiction of the descent of the river Ganga from heaven in the form of relief sculpture on rock is at
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Relief of the descent of the Ganga → Mahabalipuram
Which one of the following was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Important Kakatiya seaport → Motupalli
Which one of the following is the common element between the Kailasanatha Temple at Ellora and the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Common to Kailasanatha (Ellora) and Shore Temple (Mamallapuram) → both carved out from solid rocks
The Lilavati of Bhaskara is a standard text on:
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Lilavati of Bhaskara → Mathematics
What form of Shiva is most prominent in the Brihadeshvara Temple built by the Chola dynasty?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Most prominent form of Shiva in Brihadeshvara → Tripurantaka
Match the following List-I (Temple) List-II (Town) A. Kailasanathar 1. Bhuvneshwar B. Lingaraj 2. Khajuraho C. Kandariya Mahadey 3. Mount Abu D. Dilwara 4. Kanchipuram Codes
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Kailasanathar → Kanchipuram | Lingaraj → Bhuvneshwar | Kandariya Mahadev → Khajuraho | Dilwara → Mount Abu
Which one of the following was a temple built by the Chola Kings?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Chola-built temple → Brihadiswara Temple, Tanjavur
With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs: Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Descent of the Ganges (Arjuna's Penance) → rock relief at Mahabalipuram
The Nagara, the Dravida, and the Vesara are the
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Nagara, Dravida, Vesara → three main styles of Indian temple architecture
India is a land of many beautiful ancient temples. Which one among the following temples displays the most extensive and sumptuous rock-cut shrines and is the most marvellous architectural freak in India ?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Most extensive, sumptuous rock-cut shrine; architectural marvel → Kailash temple at Ellora
Which one of the following statement about Brihadeswara temple at Tanjavur, is not correct?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Brihadeswara, Tanjavur → Chola architecture, built by Rajaraja, granite | Dedicated to Shiva, not Vishnu
Who among the following laid the foundation of Rashtrakuta Empire?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Founder of the Rashtrakuta Empire → Dantidurga
One consistent feature found in the history of southern India was the growth of small regional kingdoms rather than large empires because of :
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Small regional kingdoms in south India → absence of vast areas of fertile land
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists : List I List II A. Gupta 1. Badami B. Chandella 2. Panamalai C. Chalukya 3. Khajuraho D. Pallava 4. Deogarh Codes A B C D
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Gupta → Deogarh | Chandella → Khajuraho | Chalukya → Badami | Pallava → Panamalai
A lot of details, regarding the village administration under the Cholas is provided by the Inscriptions at
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Chola village administration details → Uttaramerur inscriptions
Which one of the following is considered to be the world's greatest iconographical creations made by the sthapatis of south India, particularly during the Chola period?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)World's greatest iconographical creation of Chola sthapatis → Nataraja
Which one of the following was the name of salt tax in ancient India under the administration of Cholas?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Chola salt tax → Uppayam
Mattavilasa is written by
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Mattavilasa → Pallava king Mahendravarman I
Match the columns [1988] List I List II A. Amaravati 1. Hoysalas B. Aihole 2. Cholas C. Thanjavur / Tanjore 3. Satavahanas D. Halebid 4. Chalukyas 5. Pandyas Select the correct answer from the codes given below: A B C D
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Amaravati → Satavahanas | Aihole → Chalukyas | Thanjavur → Cholas | Halebid → Hoysalas
Which of the following statements is correct?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Basic unit of Chola administration → the village
Consider the following statements Assertion (A): The Cholas had a conquest of Southeast. Reason (R): They had developed a very strong fleet. Codes
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Cholas → conquest of Southeast Asia | Very strong fleet | R explains A
Who was the famous Deccan Hindu King whose fleet crossed the Bay of Bengal with an army and conquered a number of states in Sumatra, Java and Malaysia?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Deccan king whose fleet conquered states in Sumatra, Java, Malaysia → Rajendra Chola
Which dynasty was well-known for excellent village administration?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Excellent village administration → Cholas
The sculpture with the three faces of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh known as “Trimurti” appears
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh) → Elephanta caves
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